What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I’ve had many pieces of good advice from the mediation software that I use daily. It even has a small application on my iWatch. 60 seconds of controlled breathing. Breathe in… hold… breathe out… hold… and repeat. When I was still working at G.W. Williams Secondary School, I used that little 60 second exercise after I parked the Toyota Echo… but before I entered the workplace. I remember occasionally doing the 60 second twice because I was gasping for air after the first exercise (I was holding my breath or skip breathing as I was driving to my workplace). Such mediation strategies were critical to my welfare.
MUSHROOM REPORT – OCTOBER 9TH.
We have some interesting mycelium beds under our gravel driveway, by the green farm gate. Every year, the following fungi ram their heads up through the hard-packed gravel:
You really need to click on the tile to see the details of these little buggers. Yes, they look like penises. Yes, if your genitals look like this, you really should book an appointment with your health practitioner & get it assessed (especially if they’re turning inky black on the edges [juuuuuuust saying]).
There appears to be a colony of this mushroom species on our driveway, and I’m thrilled when they manifest every autumn. Can you see how these mycelium had the tensile strength to push through gravel? There’s clots of dirt sitting on top of the fungi’s fruiting bodies. I have to use a fucking pickaxe to penetrate that surface. Mushrooms just laugh at my futility. Are these mushrooms edible? Maybe. I still don’t trust myself with mushrooming. I’ll just leave them for the bears, chipmunks, and other forest creatures to consume. I buy my mushrooms from the store or trusted pickers!
OCTOBER 7TH – FOLLOW UP FROM OUR MUNICIPAL ALL-CANDIDATES MEETING… IN TOBERMORY.
TS and I stayed up late and attended the all-candidates meeting at the Tobermory Visitors’ Centre Wednesday night. We’re glad we went, despite having to dodge flocks of stupid wild turkeys as they meander across Highway 6.
One candidate didn’t show up… and the guy also chose not to respond to the local newspaper’s request for a “Meet Your Candidates” write-up. The candidate is for the Bluewater District School Board (BDSB) school trustee. Jason YIP, you blew it and you will NOT get my vote.
Robert GALBRAITH, it takes guts and courage to stand in front of a packed meeting hall of your peers and tell us why you want us to vote for you. It’s refreshing to have a school trustee whose NOT a retired school teacher, nor ex-administrator, nor an aspiring politician seeking out a gig as a future MLA/MP. Your willingness to help out Co-Op students and your managed LD makes me want to vote for you! Both TS and I saw you use the strategies you were taught to manage your stutter and we’re proud of you, sir! You WILL get my vote.
If you want to get more contact information, go here: https://www.northbrucepeninsula.ca/government/council-committees/elections/2026-registered-candidates/ ; link valid as of 26/10/09 at 16:45 EST.
SKINNER’S BLUFF – SITTING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD WITH MY NEIGHBOUR.
My neighbour and I took a trip to a fantastic landmark south-east of Wiarton, Ontario. It’s a couple hundred foot drop-off and my friend was able to share stories of him growing up in the neighbourhood. I’m privileged to know the man and he’s helped us with worrisome trees on the property. His wolf-pack was also the inspiration for TS’ business, Black Dog Biscuits. His huskies were the alpha-test kitchen for early cookie prototypes. And this fine gentleman introduced me to Flying Monkeys Brewery.
While I cleaned up window gears and oiled locks, TS was busy terraforming our east yard. She gets the last word… below…!
